Befitting its name, the Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum, situated in the Shikoku region of southern Japan, is both a bridge and a museum. Designed by architectural firm Kengo Kumo and Associates in 2010, the structure connects two buildings otherwise separated by a road, and also houses artist-in-resident programs and workshops.

But never ever thoughts all that. It’s the stunningly photogenic application of wood that tends to make the bridge noteworthy. The architects devised an interlocking technique of wooden beams, arranged in a symmetrical, decorative pattern, with which to create the cantilevered edifice—a device that, in addition to becoming visually expressive, has an ecological payoff. Say the architects, “It is a wonderful example of sustainable design, as you can obtain a large cantilever even with out big-sized components.”